The Guernsey Library, Chenango Arts Council, City of Norwich, and Colonia Theater have collaborated to provide a free movie series. Eight movies will be shown across eight weeks, at 7 p.m. every Wednesday at the Chenango Arts Council. The final movie of the series will be screened at the Colonia Theater at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, March 9. (Sun File Photo)

NORWICH — The Guernsey Memorial Library has teamed up with the Chenango Arts Council once again to put on a free movie series, featuring eight beloved movies from the past.

"The theme for this time around is just really great movies from the past," said Guernsey Memorial Library Executive Director Connie Dalrymple. "It's going to be more oldie kind of stuff, black and white films, or films that have been nominated for academy awards, and so on."

The series began on Wednesday, January 19, and will run until Wednesday, March 9. The movies will be screened in the Martin Kappel Theater in the Chenango Arts Council every Wednesday at 7 p.m., with the next showing set for Wednesday, February 2. The movie of choice will be "Boys Town."

Dalrymple said attendees can expect free popcorn, comfortable seats, and a theater layout that accommodates social distancing.

"If they come in either the front entrance right by the Arts Council, or the side entrance near the parking lot on Maple Street, they can come right up and come to the theater, grab some popcorn," she explained. "The movies start at 7 [p.m.], and we usually have a program which talks a little bit about the movie and some interesting facts, and there is a nice big theater, comfortable seats, there’s plenty of room for social distancing."

Attendees will also be required to wear masks, in accordance with COVID safety protocols.

The free series is made possible with public funds from the Statewide Community Regrants Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature, and administered by The Earlville Opera House.

Dalrymple said the City of Norwich secured the grant, and the funds were able to cover the costs of everything they needed to put on the event.

"This is supported by the Library, by the Arts Council, and by the City of Norwich, they got a grant through the Decentralization Grant process," said Dalrymple. "That has been a great partnership, between the city funding it, the library's buying the movies, setting up the licensing to we're doing everything legally, the Arts Council and the Colonia providing space, and we all pitch in and we pop popcorn for people. Make it possible for people to get out and do something safe."

The Colonia Theater, located on South Broad Street in Norwich, will be hosting the final movie of the series, "The Adventures of Robin Hood," at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, March 9.

"We have, at various times, involved them, looped them in on the movies," Dalrymple said of the Colonia. "They're always happy to help us out."

The Guernsey Library, in conjunction with the Chenango Arts Council, has put on several free movies series, as well as the fan-favorite movies in the park, over the last few years. Dalrymple said they try to stick to themes for each series, and even involve the community on the selection.

"October movies are usually spooky movies, and then we usually pick a theme for the other spring movies that we do as well," she said. "In the summertime we do this really cool thing where we put it out there on Survey Monkey, where people come up with the ideas, and then the top vote getters or idea, we go ahead and show those movies out in the park in the summertime."

Dalrymple said organizers are excited to be able to host the showings, and encourages the community to come out and watch.

"We're just thrilled to have people," she said. "We'd like as many folks to come out as possible."

Movie series schedule

Wednesday, January 19: Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, 7 p.m., Arts Council

Wednesday, January 26: On the Waterfront, 7 p.m., Arts Council

Wednesday, February 2: Boys Town, 7 p.m., Arts Council

Wednesday, February 9: Mildred Pierce, 7 p.m., Arts Council

Wednesday, February 16: Marty, 7 p.m., Arts Council

Wednesday, February 23: Four's a Crowd, 7 p.m., Arts Council

Wednesday, March 2: The Big Sleep, 7 p.m., Arts Council

Wednesday, March 9: The Adventures of Robin Hood, 7 p.m., the Colonia Theater